Location:
United States
Description:
The Big Five is the quintessential Montreal podcast, and the best way to get caught up on the top stories impacting the city. Every weekday, host Elias Makos and a roster of Montreal thought leaders debate and inform.
Language:
English
Website:
http://www.cjad800.com
Episodes
Smoking, drinking, gambling… and being American. Plus: Montrealer win lottery
7/4/2025
Elias Makos is joined by Anthony Koch, former national spokesperson for Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre and current managing principal at AK Strategies and Akil Alleyne, reporter and commentator with extensive experience analysing legal, political, and social issues and Manager of the GemStar Circle of Excellence Scholarship Program on The Big 5.
Duration:00:25:00
Get ready for the ‘Worst cuts in modern history.’ Plus: The worst neighbor ever might live in Laval.
7/3/2025
Elias Makos is joined by Caroline Codsi, founder & chief equity officer, Women in Governance and Sue Smith, a Montreal journalist and broadcaster on The Big 5.
Duration:00:23:42
A criminal record won’t stop you from entering Canada. Plus: Five years after being toppled, Sir. John A. Macdonald’s statue is still decapitated.
7/2/2025
Elias Makos is joined by Andrew Caddell, a town councillor in Kamouraska, and President of the Task Force on Linguistic policy and Neil Drabkin, is a lawyer who served as federal prosecutor and a political commentator who was a chief of staff in the Harper government on The Big 5.
Duration:00:24:06
What does it mean to be Canadian? Plus: How Donald Trump has reshaped Canada
7/1/2025
Elias Makos is joined by Dan Delmar, co-founder of the PR and content firm TNKR Media and Caryma Sa’d, lawyer sole practice and Journalist independent / freelancer based in Toronto on a National Edition of the Big 5.
Duration:00:29:07
Is Canada capitulating to Donald Trump? Plus: Does Tim Hortons owe everyone a boat?
6/30/2025
Elias Makos is joined by Jimmy Zoubris, special advisor to the Mayor and Raphaël Melançon, a political analyst for Noovo and CTV Montreal News at 5. He is also the president and founder of Trafalgar Strategies on The Big 5.
Duration:00:24:42
A bad omen for the government’s plan to build more homes. Plus: Do we swear too much?
6/27/2025
Elias Makos is joined by Anthony Koch, Former National Spokesperson for Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre and current managing principal at AK Strategies and Political analyst Karim Boulos on The Big 5.
Duration:00:24:29
The rent is too darn high in Montreal. Plus: Is Canada more like Europe or the United States?
6/26/2025
Elias Makos is joined by Caroline Codsi, Founder & Chief Equity Officer, Women in Governance and Akil Alleyne, Reporter and commentator with extensive experience analysing legal, political, and social issues and Manager of the GemStar Circle of Excellence Scholarship Program on The Big 5.
Duration:00:23:48
Canada commits to massive NATO defence spending. Plus: Be prepared to be blackmailed by Artificial Intelligence.
6/25/2025
Elias Makos is joined by Paul Gott, lead singer and guitarist for montreal punk rock band The Ripcordz and a journalism professor at Concordia and Jonathan Kalles, Vice President at McMillan Vantage, a national public affairs firm, and former advisor to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
Duration:00:23:51
Happy Fête Nationale. Plus: Donald Trump swears when talking to reporters.
6/24/2025
Dan Delmar, in for Elias Makos, is joined by Meeker Guerrier, Commentator at Noovo and RDS and Gabriel Retta, a Montrealer active in politics and government service at all three levels for the last 20 years on The Big 5.
Duration:00:31:56
US unleashes an airstrike on Iran's nuclear plants. Plus: Should school be open or closed in extreme heat?
6/23/2025
Dan Delmar, in for Elias, is joined by Jimmy Zoubris, special advisor to the Mayor and Justine McIntyre, strategic consultant and former city councillor on The Big 5.
Duration:00:32:22
European ministers are meeting today with Iran’s foreign minister. Plus: Calling for an end to Montreal-Trudeau Airport’s monopoly on international flights
6/20/2025
Sue Smith ends the week with Anthony Koch, Former National Spokesperson for Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre and current managing principal at AK Strategies, and Akil Alleyne, Reporter and commentator with extensive experience analysing legal, political, and social issues and Manager of the GemStar Circle of Excellence Scholarship Program.
Duration:00:23:31
A three year old missing toddler was found alive after three days alone in Ontario. Plus: Bill C-5 is drawing sharp criticism
6/19/2025
Sue Smith is joined by Caroline Codsi, Founder & Chief Equity Officer, Women in Governance, and Jonathan Kalles, Vice President at McMillan Vantage, a national public affairs firm, and former advisor to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
Duration:00:23:55
Carney receiving prais for his handling of a tricky situation at the G7. Plus: Quebec Liberal Party surging under newly elected leader Pablo Rodriguez
6/18/2025
Sue Smith is joined by Dan Delmar, Co-founder of the content marketing firm TNKR Media and co-host of the podcast Inspiring Entrepreneurs Canada, snd Neil Drabkin, is a lawyer who served as federal prosecutor and a political commentator who was a chief of staff in the Harper government.
Duration:00:22:31
Donald Trump leaves the G7 Summit early. Plus: Should Russia be at the G7?
6/17/2025
Sue Smith welcomes back Meeker Guerrier, Commentator at Noovo and RDS, and Justine McIntyre, Strategic consultant and former city councillor.
Duration:00:23:34
The Quebec Liberal Party has elected Pablo Rodriguez as its new leader. Plus: Prime Minister Carney is set to meet Donald Trump at the G7 Summit in Kananaskis
6/16/2025
Sue Smith kicks the week off with Jimmy Zoubris, special advisor to the Mayor, and Paul Gott, Lead singer and guitarist for Montreal Punk Rock band the Ripcordz and a journalism professor at Concordia.
Duration:00:21:30
Israel has launched a large-scale airstrike on Iran. Plus: The Quebec Liberal Party will choose its new leader this weekend
6/13/2025
Sue Smith caps off the week with Anthony Koch, Former National Spokesperson for Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre and current managing principal at AK Strategies, and Neil Drabkin, is a lawyer who served as federal prosecutor and a political commentator who was a chief of staff in the Harper government.
Duration:00:22:49
Mark Carney has appointed Michael Sabia as Canada’s next Clerk of the Privy Council. Plus: the City of Montreal launched a last-minute Grand Prix beautification blitz to hide unsightly construction zones
6/12/2025
Sue Smith is joined by Justine McIntyre, Strategic consultant and former city councillor, and Gabriel Retta, is a Montrealer who has been active in politics and government service at all three levels for the last 20 years. He is currently serving as Chief of Staff to the Official Opposition at Montreal City Hall.
Duration:00:31:05
A scathing new report by the Auditor General of widespread mismanagement in federal contracts
6/11/2025
Suse Smith welcomes back Dan Delmar, Co-founder of the content marketing firm TNKR Media and co-host of the podcast Inspiring Entrepreneurs Canada, and Political analyst Karim Boulos.
Duration:00:22:17
Montreal police response times for the most urgent calls have increased by nearly a minute. Plus: Mark Carney has announced $9.3 billion in new military spending
6/10/2025
Sue Smith is joined by Akil Alleyne, (Alean) Reporter and commentator with extensive experience analysing legal, political, and social issues and Manager of the GemStar Circle of Excellence Scholarship Program, and Jimmy Zoubris, special advisor to the Mayor.
Duration:00:28:33
National Guard troops arrive in Los Angeles Plus: Prime Minister Mark Carney has unveiled the “One Canadian Economy” bill
6/9/2025
Sue Smith kicks off the week with Jonathan Kalles, Vice President at McMillan Vantage, a national public affairs firm, and former advisor to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, and Paul Gott, Lead singer and guitarist for Montreal Punk Rock band the Ripcordz and a journalism professor at Concordia.
Duration:00:31:14